Liquid-gage.



T. NAKAMIG'AWA,

LIQUID GAGE.. APPLIATlQN FILED FEB. 28. l9l6. I

' Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

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LIQUID GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2B. 1916.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ml fa A (a////// /A 7 5] wvwvtoz g Wvwi - as auowTETSUSHIRO NAKAMIGAWA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917 Application filed February 2 8, 1916. Serial No.80,931.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TETSUSHIRO NAKAMI- GAWA, a subject of the Emperor ofJapan,

residing in the city, county, and State of.

New York, have made a. certain new and useful Invention in Liquid-Gage,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liquid gages.

The object of the invention is to provide a gage which will register theheight of a liquid in a tank at some distant point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage for the purposespecified which is controlled by a source of electricity and associatedcircuits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type andfor the purposes specified wherein arcing or sparking due tomaking orbreaking contact in an electric circuit is eliminated thereby enablingthe use of the device with tanks or receptacles containing highlyvolatile and explosive liquids.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage of the type andfor the purposes specified, which is simple in structure, efficient inoperation, and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially .in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, and to the sev eral views appearing therein,-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a motor vehicle, showing oneapplication of a gage embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring diagram as employed inconnection with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a gage.

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on the line 4, 4, Fig. 3, and lookingin the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5, 5, Fig. 4, and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation and in vertical section of the gageemployed at the point distant from the tank or receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line 7, 7, Fig. 6,and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8, 8, Fig. 6, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken 'onthe line 9, 9, Fig. 6, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral, wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide adistant gage controlled by electric circuits and a float on the top ofthe liquid in the tank but wherein the circuits are not made and brokenwithin the tank, and wherein all danger due to sparks caused bythemaking and breaking of the respective circuits is entirelyeliminated.

In accordance with my invention I provide a frame with vertical portions1 held together by means of spiders 2, 3, 'at the top and bottomthereof. The frame is adapted to be inserted into the tank containingthe liquid, such as the gasolene tank 4, of Fig. 1, and is provided atits top with a gage as will be hereinafter described. The verticalportions 1 of the frame form guides, for a float 5, on which float ismounted a horizontal shaft 6, suitably journaled in brackets 7, 8,carried by the floats. On the respective ends of the shaft 6 are mountedto rotate therewith gear wheels 9, 10, respectively. Suitably journaledin the spiders 2 and 3, and extending the vertical length of the frameis a rack 11. The teeth 12 thereof mesh with the teeth of the gear wheel9, as shown in dotted linesyFig. 4. A-shaft 13, preferably angular incross section, extends the vertical length of the frame, and isjournaled in the spider 3 at its lower end and extends through the center of the float 5, and through the top spider 2, as shown. Looselymounted on the shaft 13, to allowvertical movement therealong, and tocause the rotation thereof, is a sleeve 15 provided at its upper endwith a gear.

wheel 16 which meshes with the gear wheel 10 on the shaft 6. The sleeve15 passes through the approximate center of the float 5, and a bearingsleeve 17 positioned between the same and the float 5, permits therotation thereof relative to the float.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the float 5 rises or falls,according to the rise or drop of the level of the liquid in the tank, onwhich the float rests, the shaft 6, due to the movement of the float andthe actuation thereof secured by the gear wheel 9 traveling up and downthe rack 11, will cause the gear wheel 10 to rotate the gear wheel 16,and sleeve 15, and consequently the shaft 13, in one direction or theother according to the direction of movement of the float 5, as isclearly shown.

As has been herei nbefore stated, the shaft 13 projects "through the topSpider 2 and has mounted on its end, horizontally relative thereto,a'permanent bar magnet 18 so mounted as to rotate therewith. A suitableair tight cap or cover secured to the spider 2,-incloses the magnet 18and in effect in conjunction with the body portion 19 of the gage, whichis also secured to the frame, makes the entire structure air-tightrelative to the exterior, and, especially, to the interior of the bodyportion of the gage. I show one simple arrangement for making the cap orcover for the frame air tight wherein I clamp a plate 20 thereover andsecure it thereto by means of screws as shown.

In practice I employ a round top or cover of thin material, such as thinsheet brass or other non-magnetic material, the thinnest portion ofwhich, indicated at 21, is directly opposite and closely adjacent to thepoles of the magnet 18, so that the magnet 18 will be free to rotatewithin the cap or cover, but the distance between its poles and the wall21 of the cap or cover will be very small, but at all timessubstantially equal.

Secured to the body 19 of the gage is a spider 22, the center of whichforms a guide journal for a pin 23. The lower end of the pin 23 ispointed, as shown, and rests on the plate 20. Secured to and suspendedfrom the lower end of the pin 23 is a horse shoe magnet 24, the legs orpoles of which are bent or formed to lie in close proximity to the thinwall 21 of the cap or cover, directly opposite to the poles of the barmagnet 18, as shown. The upper end of the pin 23 has secured to it apointer 25, adapted to revolve horizontally over a scale member or plate26 suitably secured to the top surface of the spider 22. If desired, andas shown, the body of the gage may be inclosed by any suitable casing,such as shown at 28, over which may be screwed a can or cover 29,provided with the usual window of glass 30.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 23 is a commutator 31 which is held inplace by a disk 32, secured to the shaft 23 and provided with anupwardly extending 33, pass--- ing through a circular slot 34, in thesurface of the commutator 31, as shown.

This arrangement affords a lost motion connection between the spindle 23and the commutator which compensates for a certain amount of verticalmovement of the float 5, due to the wash of the liquid caused byvibration or other disturbances to the tank in which it is contained,without affecting the rotation of the commutator 31.

Suitably secured to the body 19 of the gage, at equally spacedintervals, are electrical contacts 36, normally out of contact with thecommutator 31, but adapted to be placed in contact therewith through thecontact element 37, which is secured to the commutator 31, to rotatetherewith. Each of the contacts 36 is provided with an independent wire38, and a wire 39, connected with a brush 40, which is maintained inbearing contact with the commutator 38, may be inclosed in any suitabletubing 41, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each individual contact 36 is connected by its wire 38 to acorresponding contact 43, inclosed in the casing 44, of the distantindicator dial. The contacts 43 are arranged around and in contact witha rotary commutator 45, which is provided in its surface with alongitudinally extending insulation strip 46, for a purpose to behereinafter de scribed. The shaft 47 of the commutator 45 has mountedthereon a wheel 48, with ratchet teeth and a yoke 49 carried by suitableguides 50 and provided with teeth 51, on opposite sides of the ratchetwheel adapted to engage the teeth thereof and secure positivecounter-clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel for horizontal movementof the yoke in either direction. For example, and referring particularlyto Fig. 8, if the yoke 49 is moved toward the right, the lower tooth 51forces the ratchet wheel 48 counter clockwise, and if the yoke is movedtoward the left the upper tooth 51, forces the ratchet yoke I provide anarm 55 as shown best in 'Figs. 6 and 7, secured thereto, which arm isattached to cores 56, operating in suitable solenoids 57 The arm 55 isprovided with a contact point 58, held normally in position between twoterminals 59, 60, and normally pressed outwardly therebetween by meansof a spring 61 acting upon the core 56 to which is secured the arm 55.The shaft 47 is provided with the pointer 62, adapted to read on thescale 63 through the opening 64, and the glass cover 65 in the usualmanner.

The operation of the device is very simple, and to more clearly describethe same reference is made particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing whichdiagrammatically illustrates the wirin of the device, and wherein 70designates generally the device shown in gage hereinbefore describedlocated at the distant point. The brush 40, commutator 31, the contacts36, and the contacting element 37 of the commutator, are all 1llustratedin the device 7 O, and'the commutator 45, insulating strip 46, contacts43, shaft '47, ratchet wheel 48, yoke 49, and coil 57,

cores 56, and the terminals 59, 60, and the contactor 58, are allillustrated in the device 71.

Assuming that the tank is full of liquid, and the pointer of the device71' registers Full on the scale member 63, then when, say

one gallon of the liquid is used or withdrawn the gear wheel 9, rollingdown the rack 11, rotates the shaft 6, gear wheels 10, 16, shaft 13, barmagnet 18, and consequently horse shoe magnet 24, shaft 23, disk 32, andcommutat0r 31, all as has hereinbefore been described. The commutator31, on rotation brings the contactor 37 in contact with the terminal ofone of the wires 38, say number 75. Circuit 'is then established fromany suitable source, .say the battery 76, through Wire 39 to the brush40, commutator 31, contact element 37, terminal 75, wire 77, to one ofthe contacts 43 of the commutator 45, in this instance, the contact 78,through commutator 45, to brush 7 9, wire 80, through solenoid 57,contacts 59, 58 and 60, and back to the source 76. It will be seen thatthis energizes the solenoid 57, thereby drawing'the core 56, andconsequently the yoke 49 into the same thereby securing the rotation ofthe ratchet wheel. When the core 56 is drawn into the solenoid 57, thecontact 58 is drawn from between the terminals 59, 60, thereby breakingthe circuit of the battery 76, and the sprmg 61, (see Fig. 6), thereupon forces the core 56 out of the solenoid 57, causing the ratchetwheels to again be partially rotated in the same direction by the teeth51, of the yoke 49, as has been described, in connection with Fig. 8. Itwill be seen that this action again closes the cir comes in contact withthe next contact, say

81, or in other words, as long. as the liquid ontained in the tankremains at substantially the same level. I

It is obvious that as many readings may be secured or as manygraduations of the contents of the tank may be employed as desired,depending entirely on the number of contacts 43, 36, and wires 38, areemployed one of each of the contacts and one wire being necessary foreach reading or graduation for the scale. In other words theheight ofthe liquid in the tank 4 will determine the displacement of thecommutator 31, or rather, of the contact member 37 thereof, and thecooperation of said contact member 37 with one or another of thecontacts 36, controls the circuit of the solenoid 57, whichcorrespondingly operates to relatively displace the scale and thepointer members 62, 63. In this manner the scale and pointer devices ofthe indicator 44 follow the rotative displacements of the drag element24, 18, of the magnet system and this displacement is controlled bytheheight or level of the fluid contained in tank 4. It will be observedthat the consumption of current required is very slight, and continuesonly until the active contact 43, of the indicator mechanism is broughtto bear upon the insulating strip 46, and while being brought into thisposition, the circuit is maintained closed intermittently through theaction of the solenoids in effecting the make and break of the circuitthrough contacts 58, 59 and 60.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and efficientelectrically operated device for reading the level of liquids in a tankat a distant point, which is especially adapted for use in connectionwith volatile, explosive liquids, and wherein all danger of ignition dueto sparking of the contacts is entirely eliminated, as the contacts areat all times effectively air sealed from the contents of the tank.

\Vhile I have shown and described specific structures embodying myinvention, it will be understood that many changes and variations indetails will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the broad scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

Therefore, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a liquid indicating device an air sealed liquid container, amagnet system in cluding a pair of relatively displaceable members, saidmembers being respectively located inside and outside of said container,means controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicatedfordisplacing one of said members, an electrically operated indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, a commutator for controlling said circuits,and connections between said commutator and the other of said members.

2. In a liquid indicating device, an air sealed I liquid container, amagnet system including a pair of relatively displaceable members, saidmembers being respectively located inside and outside of said container,means controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated fordisplacing one of said members, an electrically operated indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, a commutator for controlling said circuits,and lost motion connections between said commutator and the other ofsaid members.

3. In a liquid indicating device, an air sealed liquid container, amagnet system including relatively displaceable members, said membersbeing respectively located inside and outside of said container, meanscontrolled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for relativelydisplacing one of said members, and an electrically actuated indicatingdevice controlled by the cooperating displacement of the other of saidmembers, and means for sealing said magnet system, from the container ofsaid liquid.

4. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an'indicating devicelocated at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at adistance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, contacts for controlling said circuits, meanscontrolled by the level of the liquid in said receptacle for controllingsaid contacts, and means for completely sealing said contacts from saidreceptacle.

In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating devicelocated at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at adistance therefrom,electrical devices for operating said indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, means foroperating the same, means c011- trolled by the level of the liquid to beindicated for controlling said circuits, and means controlled by theoperation of said second device for also controlling said circuits. i

6. In a liquid indicatin mechanism for vehicles, an indicating dev1celocated at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at adistance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicatingdevice,

circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scale anddisplaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by the level ofthe liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer member and meansfor automatically opening the circuit of said electrical devices Whensaid pointer member attains a displaced position corresponding to thelevel of the liquid.

7. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating devicelocated at the front end of the vehicle, a fiuid receptacle located at;a distance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scaleand displaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by thelevel of the liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer memberand means for automatically opening the circuit of said devices whensaid pointer member attains a displaced position corresponding to thelevel of the liquid and means for intermittently opening and closing thecircuit of said electrical devices to effect the displacement of saidpointer member.

8. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating devicelocated at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at adistance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicatingdevice, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scaleand displaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by thelevel of the liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer memberand means for automatically opening the circuit of said electricaldevices when said pointer member attains a displaced positioncorresponding to the level of the liquid, said means controlled by themovement of said pointer member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 21st day ofFebruary, A. D. 1916.

TETSUSHIRO N AKAMIGAWA.

